Do people tip in Hungary or not?

For many years, people have been unsure about leaving a tip when they have already paid for the service free. Are they the same thing? Do Hungarians give a tip? When should you give a tip when visiting the country?

Service Fee

As Index reported, there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding this topic. Some people think that service fee is the same as tipping. However, this is far from the truth. The payment of the service fee is a fixed charge for the service of food and drinks served in the catering establishments where it is applied. Therefore, you must pay the service fee when eating at a restaurant. It is the company’s income, although its name might be a little bit misleading for many. People tend to think that it is a mandatory tip, but it is not. So why does it have a special name? The service fee is part of the sale price, but every last penny can only be spent on wages. Taxing is more favourable in the case of service fees for companies. There is a very strict accounting system, so the tough controls make it impossible to “steal” this money from the workers.

Do Hungarians tip?

Data shows that most Hungarians do tip when dining out. Regular customers always give a tip. People who only had a drink or two are less likely to tip. Foreign tourists, especially Americans, tend to tip more. A worker said the following:

I have noticed that Germans do not give much, Italians depending on who they are with: they hardly ever give as a family, but when they are alone they are more generous.

He also added that Americans and Brits tip the highest amount, usually 15-25 percent. In addition, food deliveries in Budapest have noticed that people living in poorer and less fabulous areas of the city are usually nicer, more polite, and more likely to tip. People living in posh areas hardly ever tip. Moreover, in some areas, they do not even say “hi” to the delivery guys.

Should you tip in Hungary?

The answer is more complicated than a simple “yes” or “no”. If you were pleased with the quality of the service and the waiter was kind and helpful, you should tip. Especially if you are a regular customer. If there is no service fee, it is appropriate to tip (in cash if possible), because it is calculated in the salaries of the workers. However, if you pay the service fee but you are not happy with the staff, you should not tip. In general, if you are not content with the food or the service, you should express your dissatisfaction by not tipping (regardless of the service fee).